So it’s time to purchase a first aid kit for your workplace? What do you buy? With so many available brands and types of kits it gets confusing. Many businesses just give up and buy a generic kit. But did you know that could expose you legally, or even worse, it could hurt someone. In this article we are going to discuss what you need to know when getting a first aid kit.
What Equipment Do I Need?
To be prepared to give first aid in an emergency, it’s important to have a first aid kit tailored to your business’s specific risks and hazards—and not just any one from a store. How can you determine what needs to be in your kit? One important thing to do is to complete a “risk assessment”. What is a risk assessment? This is a document where you can record likely hazards and risks in your workplace and use it to ascertain what first aid gear you need.
For example: If your business involves metal work and welding, you might want to consider adding equipment to treat burns and cuts in your kit. If you’re in an industry that involves open chemical handling or spraying, you may choose to make sure you have a kit with eye treatment or an eye wash station.
You could DIY Many providers even have industry specific first aid kits. Whether it is at a Café, on a boat, a sports field, or the garden, a quick google search can find something tailored to your risks.
Organising a risk assessment can seem difficult, but it’s not as bad as you may think. Many first aid businesses can help, or you can look at a sample risk assessment in your state’s first aid code of practice document to get you well on your way. In it you’ll also find a checklist of first aid questions to consider when making decisions.
How to Maintain Equipment
It’s important to have a first aid kit, but it’s just as important to maintain it. If someone in your workplace had a serious injury, what if the bandage roll you needed was already used and wasn’t there. Or what if the equipment was out of date and didn’t work properly? A person in the workplace, often a first-aid officer—should be assigned to maintain the first-aid kits. What does this include? It includes checking the kit at least once a year- often more. The person should check everything in the kit to make sure it is within expiration dates and in working order. If there is an incident and something gets used, it will need to be replaced. Many businesses choose to outsource most of these responsibilities to an outside contractor.
Conclusion
To conclude, what do you need to know when buying a first aid kit? Make sure to get a first aid kit tailored to the specific risks and hazards at your workplace. Once you have the right equipment keep it well maintained. Ultimately, the importance of first aid cannot be overstated, your efforts to improve your workplace’s standards could save a life!
